Reincarnated as Itsuka Shido: Collecting Spirits as Lovers

The hot spring resort that Shido and Kotori had chosen was quite large, boasting spacious areas for both the male and female baths, as well as an expansive mixed bath.

Inside the mixed bath, Tohka, Origami, Kotori, and Yoshino were soaking in the warm water, their bodies enveloped in a comforting heat.

Naturally, Yoshinon was also floating nearby, bobbing slightly on the water's surface. Each of the girls was wrapped in a white towel, modestly covering their delicate figures while they enjoyed the soothing atmosphere.

Surprisingly, Tohka and Origami were sitting relatively close to each other, both appearing relaxed.

However, this unexpected peace had only come after a prolonged battle of glares and hushed bickering. It was as if they had exhausted their energy competing and had begrudgingly accepted a temporary truce.

Originally, Origami had planned to sneak into the mixed bath, fully expecting that Shido might do the same. After all, most men wouldn't want to miss the rare opportunity of soaking in the same hot spring as a girl.

However, her movements hadn't gone unnoticed.

Tohka, who just so happened to spot Origami acting suspiciously, narrowed her eyes. She watched as the white-haired girl slipped through the curtain marked Mixed Bath. While Tohka was still learning the ways of human society, her instincts as a Spirit were razor-sharp. And right now, those instincts screamed that Origami was up to no good.

Without hesitation, Tohka quietly followed behind her.

Upon entering, she quickly noticed a changing area similar to the one in the women's bath. Wasting no time, she hurriedly stripped off her clothes, grabbed a towel, and draped it over her body. 

Tohka stomped towards the sliding door leading to the hot spring, fully prepared to confront Origami's suspicious actions.

With a dramatic motion, she slid the door open forcefully and pointed at Origami, declaring loudly, "What are you planning to do, Tobichi Origami?!"

However, before she could continue her accusation, her words caught in her throat.

Her eyes widened as she took in the unexpected sight before her.

Origami, who had just stepped into the mixed bath, turned her head to glance at Tohka with her usual unreadable expression. Then, without a word, she shifted her attention back to the water, where two familiar figures were already soaking.

There, Kotori and Yoshino sat partially submerged, their faces turned away as if avoiding eye contact.

Tohka stood frozen, completely dumbfounded. 

She had been so sure that Origami was up to something suspicious, but she never expected Kotori and Yoshino to be here as well!

Origami, on the other hand, was equally caught off guard. She had assumed no one would be bold enough to enter the mixed bath. Yet, against all odds, not one, but two girls had beaten her to it.

Kotori, despite soaking in the warm water, hadn't removed her signature black ribbon. Even here, she maintained her usual strong-willed persona. However, a slight tinge of red had crept onto her face when Tohka and Origami stared at her.

After all, she hadn't expected to see them here.

In truth, Kotori had also planned to quietly slip away from the female bath to enter the mixed bath. If Origami's reasoning had been to have an intimate time with Shido, Kotori' just wanted to have a time alone with Shido while soaking on the hot spring.

However, much to her shock, someone had beaten her to it.

And the one who had outrun her wasn't Origami, nor Tohka, nor even some other scheming woman.

No.

The person who had somehow gathered the courage to enter the mixed bath before her… was none other than Yoshino.

Yes. The shy, soft-spoken, easily flustered Yoshino.

Kotori had been utterly dumbfounded. If someone had told her beforehand that Yoshino would take the lead in something like this, she would have laughed it off as a bad joke.

And yet, here they were.

As if on cue, Kotori's eyes shifted toward the blue-haired girl, who was now sitting quietly in the bath, her face flushed red as steam rose around her.

Yoshino's hands were gently pressed against her cheeks, trying to cool down her embarrassment. Meanwhile, the puppet Yoshinon floated beside her, lazily drifting in the water as if it had no care in the world.

Yoshinon, who wanted the world to be in chaos, had been the mastermind behind all of this. The mischievous puppet had skillfully manipulated Yoshino's innocent feelings, planting the idea in her head.

"Yoshino, this is your chance! You and Shido, alone, in the bath! Can you imagine? The steamy air, the relaxing water, the accidental skinship~" Yoshinon had teased, its voice full of mischief.

Yoshino had blushed furiously at the mere thought. "T-That's... too embarrassing…" she murmured, pressing her fingers together.

But the temptation was too strong. The thought of sharing such a special moment with Shido, just the two of them, slowly chipped away at her hesitation. Before she realized it, she had already stepped into the mixed bath, towel wrapped tightly around her petite figure.

Yet, when she arrived, she was met with a disappointing sight.

No one was there.

Yoshino let out a small sigh, a mix of relief and slight disappointment washing over her. Part of her heart wasn't quite ready for such an encounter… yet another part had been anticipating it.

'Maybe… it's for the best.'

She turned on her heel, ready to quietly return to the female bath before anyone noticed her absence.

But at that exact moment...

SLIDE—

The bath's entrance door suddenly opened.

Standing there, frozen in place, was Kotori.

The crimson-eyed girl stared at Yoshino, her expression an unreadable mix of shock and disbelief, as if she had just witnessed something completely impossible.

And that was the first domino to fall.

From there, a chain reaction began.

Shortly after, Tohka, suspicious of Origami's sneaky actions, had followed her into the mixed bath. Origami had originally intended to sneak in to Shido, but seeing that others had also arrived left her momentarily speechless.

One by one, the girls who had originally set out to sneak into the mixed bath for Shido had instead ended up gathering together.

By the time they realized their blunder, it was already too late to back out.

And so...

Having completely abandoned the idea of bathing with Shido, the girls simply resigned themselves to enjoying the hot spring together.

"Hmm? Where's Reine?" Kotori suddenly asked, causing the three girls to lazily turn their heads.

"She might've been left behind in the women's bath~" Tohka mumbled in a drowsy tone.

She wasn't the sharpest to begin with, but the soothing warmth of the hot spring had dulled her senses even further, leaving her completely relaxed and absentminded.

"Well, that's true. We didn't tell her anything after all," Kotori nodded to herself.

Deep down, she felt a little guilty about leaving Reine behind, especially since she had her own… less-than-innocent plans in mind. Not that they worked out in the end.

Meanwhile, Origami, Yoshino, and Yoshinon were dozing off at the edge of the hot spring, completely lost in relaxation.

However, none of them realized that their most formidable rival wasn't among them, but someone else entirely.

...

Inside the private hot spring of the room booked by Kotori, Shido soaked his body, letting the warm water ease his tension.

The thick steam clouded his vision, making it difficult to see.

However, he could still sense the presence of someone entering the bath.

At first, he assumed it might be Tohka or Origami, given their relationship with him.

"Tohka?" he called out cautiously.

But instead of the expected reply, a familiar, drowsy voice answered.

"It's me, Shin."